CINCY

HOU

No. 4 Houston clinches Big 12 regular-season title with 73-64 win over Cincinnati

AP
Mar 01, 2025

Houston Cougars (AP) L.J. Cryer scored 20 points and No. 4 Houston clinched the outright Big 12 regular-season title for a second straight season with a 73-64 win over Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday.

Terrance Arceneaux added 10 points for Houston (25-4, 17-1 Big 12), which has won eight straight. The Cougars became the first team to win the regular-season championship in its first two years in a major conference since Idaho, which won the PCC in the 1921-22 and 1922-23 seasons. Houston joined the Big 12 in 2023.

The Cougars, who have won 12 straight over Cincinnati, shot 54% and owned a 17-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

Day Day Thomas scored 19 points and Jizzle James added 18 for Cincinnati (17-12, 7-11). The Bearcats shot 44% and were 6 of 20 on 3-pointers.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats missed a chance to improve their resume for a possible NCAA Tournament berth. Cincinnati fell to 1-10 in Quad 1 games this season.

Houston: The Cougars continue to help their cause for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with their 21st win in 22 games. Houston improved to 15-4 in Quad 1 and 2 games this season, with all of its losses coming in Quad 1 games.

Trailing 10-2 with 13½ minutes left in the first half, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson called timeout, and Cryer hit a jumper out of it to start a 18-2 run. Houston led 37-25 at the half.

Houston dominated the paint with a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint.

Houston hosts Kansas on Monday, and Cincinnati hosts Kansas State on Wednesday.

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1st Half
CINCY
Bearcats
25
HOU
Cougars
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		(Cougars gains possession)
19:37		J'Wan Roberts misses two point layup
19:35		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
19:17		Day Day Thomas misses three point jump shot
19:15		J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
19:01	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point hook shot (L.J. Cryer assists)	0-2
18:41		Dillon Mitchell misses two point jump shot
18:39		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
18:32		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
18:30		Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
18:01		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
17:59		Milos Uzan defensive rebound
17:53		Milos Uzan misses two point layup
17:51		Jizzle James defensive rebound
17:40	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot	2-2
17:17		J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
17:15		Bearcats defensive rebound
16:46		Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
16:44		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
16:38		Day Day Thomas personal foul
16:35		L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
16:33		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
16:13	+3	Dillon Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	5-2
15:53		Day Day Thomas personal foul
15:53		TV timeout
15:36		Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
15:34		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
15:10	+2	Josh Reed makes two point jump shot	7-2
14:39		J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
14:37		Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
14:27		J'Wan Roberts personal foul
14:13		Tyler Betsey misses three point jump shot
14:11		Dillon Mitchell offensive rebound
13:57		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
13:55		Dan Skillings Jr. offensive rebound
13:53		J'Wan Roberts personal foul
13:47		Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (Milos Uzan steals)
13:36		Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
13:34		Tyler Betsey defensive rebound
13:28	+3	Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	10-2
13:22		Cougars 30 second timeout
13:02	+2	L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot	10-4
12:43		Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (Mylik Wilson steals)
12:31		Dillon Mitchell personal foul
12:20		L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
12:18		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
11:56		Ja'Vier Francis turnover (out of bounds)
11:56		Dan Skillings Jr. turnover (traveling)
11:56		TV timeout
11:37		Terrance Arceneaux misses two point jump shot
11:35		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
11:34		Arrinten Page personal foul
11:34	+1	Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 1 of 1	10-5
11:34	+1	Ja'Vier Francis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	10-6
11:11		Arrinten Page misses two point hook shot
11:09		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
10:48		Ja'Vier Francis turnover (traveling)
10:37		Dillon Mitchell misses three point jump shot
10:35		Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
10:30		Mylik Wilson misses two point jump shot
10:28		Cougars offensive rebound
10:25		Dillon Mitchell personal foul
10:14		Terrance Arceneaux misses two point jump shot
10:12		Joseph Tugler offensive rebound
10:11	+2	Joseph Tugler makes two point layup	10-8
10:11		Josh Reed shooting foul (Joseph Tugler draws the foul)
10:11	+1	Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 1 of 1	10-9
9:52		Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
9:50		Dan Skillings Jr. offensive rebound
9:43		Joseph Tugler blocks Jizzle James's two point layup
9:41		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
9:30	+2	Terrance Arceneaux makes two point layup	10-11
9:11		Simas Lukošius turnover (Emanuel Sharp steals)
9:06	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point layup	10-13
8:41		Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:39		Bearcats offensive rebound
8:18		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
8:13		Joseph Tugler defensive rebound
8:13		Dan Skillings Jr. personal foul
8:13	+1	Joseph Tugler makes regular free throw 1 of 2	10-14
8:13		Joseph Tugler misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:13		Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
8:04		Aziz Bandaogo turnover (offensive goaltending)
7:52	+2	Milos Uzan makes two point jump shot	10-16
7:49		Bearcats 30 second timeout
7:49		TV timeout
7:22	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot	12-16
6:50	+2	Terrance Arceneaux makes two point jump shot	12-18
6:36		Tyler Betsey turnover (Mylik Wilson steals)
6:32	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point layup	12-20
6:23		Mylik Wilson personal foul
6:04		Day Day Thomas misses two point jump shot
6:02		Mylik Wilson defensive rebound
5:58		Milos Uzan turnover (Josh Reed steals)
5:55		Mylik Wilson blocks Day Day Thomas's two point layup
5:53		Jizzle James offensive rebound
5:48	+2	Jizzle James makes two point layup	14-20
5:34	+2	L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot	14-22
5:33		Day Day Thomas personal foul
5:33		Ja'Vier Francis misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:33		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
5:13	+3	Dan Skillings Jr. makes three point jump shot (Simas Lukošius assists)	17-22
4:50		L.J. Cryer misses two point jump shot
4:48		Ja'Vier Francis offensive rebound
4:46	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point hook shot	17-24
4:29		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
4:27		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
4:19		L.J. Cryer misses two point layup
4:17		Simas Lukošius defensive rebound
4:13		Simas Lukošius turnover (Emanuel Sharp steals)
4:10		Dan Skillings Jr. flagrant 1
4:10		TV timeout
4:10	+1	Emanuel Sharp makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2	17-25
4:10	+1	Emanuel Sharp makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2	17-26
4:02		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
4:00		Bearcats defensive rebound
3:42		Simas Lukošius turnover (Joseph Tugler steals)
3:28	+2	L.J. Cryer makes two point layup (Joseph Tugler assists)	17-28
3:15		Emanuel Sharp personal foul
3:12		Joseph Tugler blocks Aziz Bandaogo's two point layup
3:10		Josh Reed offensive rebound
3:06		Josh Reed misses two point layup
3:04		Milos Uzan defensive rebound
2:47	+2	Terrance Arceneaux makes two point layup	17-30
2:28		L.J. Cryer personal foul
2:20		Jizzle James misses two point layup
2:18		Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
2:13	+2	Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk	19-30
1:48	+2	Milos Uzan makes two point jump shot	19-32
1:38	+3	Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	22-32
1:11	+2	L.J. Cryer makes two point layup (Joseph Tugler assists)	22-34
0:53		Jizzle James turnover
0:44	+3	Emanuel Sharp makes three point jump shot (Milos Uzan assists)	22-37
0:41		Bearcats 30 second timeout
0:33	+3	Simas Lukošius makes three point jump shot (Jizzle James assists)	25-37
0:01		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
CINCY
Bearcats
39
HOU
Cougars
36

Time		Play	Score
19:50	+3	Day Day Thomas makes three point jump shot (Dillon Mitchell assists)	28-37
19:28		L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
19:26		Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
19:18	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot	30-37
18:48	+2	J'Wan Roberts makes two point hook shot	30-39
18:25	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	32-39
17:55		Day Day Thomas personal foul
17:37	+3	L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot (Joseph Tugler assists)	32-42
17:19		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
17:17		J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
17:05	+2	J'Wan Roberts makes two point hook shot	32-44
16:49		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
16:47		Milos Uzan defensive rebound
16:29		Aziz Bandaogo blocks J'Wan Roberts's two point jump shot
16:27		Cougars offensive rebound
16:26		Josh Reed personal foul
16:10	+2	J'Wan Roberts makes two point layup (Milos Uzan assists)	32-46
15:56		Emanuel Sharp personal foul
15:56		TV timeout
15:48	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	34-46
15:22	+2	Milos Uzan makes two point jump shot	34-48
15:00		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
14:58		Jizzle James offensive rebound
14:53		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
14:51		Aziz Bandaogo offensive rebound
14:48	+2	Aziz Bandaogo makes two point jump shot	36-48
14:30		Milos Uzan misses three point jump shot
14:28		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
14:28		Joseph Tugler personal foul
14:16	+2	Jizzle James makes two point jump shot	38-48
14:12		Cougars 30 second timeout
14:12		TV timeout
13:44	+2	Terrance Arceneaux makes two point layup (J'Wan Roberts assists)	38-50
13:29		Josh Reed misses two point layup
13:27		J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
13:06	+2	Terrance Arceneaux makes two point jump shot	38-52
12:43		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
12:41		Cougars defensive rebound
12:16		Aziz Bandaogo blocks Mylik Wilson's two point layup
12:14		Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
11:50		Dan Skillings Jr. misses two point jump shot
11:48		Cougars defensive rebound
11:47		TV timeout
11:35	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot	38-54
11:09	+2	Dillon Mitchell makes two point dunk (Dan Skillings Jr. assists)	40-54
10:49	+2	J'Wan Roberts makes two point jump shot	40-56
10:29		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
10:27		J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
10:05		J'Wan Roberts misses two point jump shot
10:03		Dan Skillings Jr. defensive rebound
9:54	+2	Jizzle James makes two point layup	42-56
9:37	+2	Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup (Mylik Wilson assists)	42-58
9:26		Jizzle James misses three point jump shot
9:25		Bearcats offensive rebound
9:25		Terrance Arceneaux personal foul
9:04		Bearcats turnover (shot clock violation)
8:52		Aziz Bandaogo personal foul
8:50		Milos Uzan turnover (bad pass) (Day Day Thomas steals)
8:50		Mylik Wilson personal foul
8:28		Dan Skillings Jr. misses three point jump shot
8:26		L.J. Cryer defensive rebound
8:20	+2	L.J. Cryer makes two point jump shot	42-60
8:17		Bearcats 30 second timeout
8:17		TV timeout
7:56	+2	Aziz Bandaogo makes two point dunk (Jizzle James assists)	44-60
7:32	+2	Mylik Wilson makes two point jump shot (Terrance Arceneaux assists)	44-62
7:11	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot	46-62
6:56	+3	L.J. Cryer makes three point jump shot	46-65
6:28	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot	48-65
6:06		Terrance Arceneaux misses three point jump shot
6:04		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
5:51		Ja'Vier Francis shooting foul (Josh Reed draws the foul)
5:51	+1	Josh Reed makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-65
5:51	+1	Josh Reed makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-65
5:42		Mylik Wilson turnover (lost ball) (Jizzle James steals)
5:39		Mylik Wilson shooting foul (Jizzle James draws the foul)
5:39		Jizzle James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:39	+1	Jizzle James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	51-65
5:35		Milos Uzan turnover (bad pass) (Josh Reed steals)
5:31	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point layup	53-65
5:18		Emanuel Sharp misses three point jump shot
5:16		Josh Reed defensive rebound
5:10		Emanuel Sharp personal foul
5:10	+1	Jizzle James makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-65
5:10		Jizzle James misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:10		Ja'Vier Francis defensive rebound
4:44	+2	Ja'Vier Francis makes two point layup	54-67
4:27	+2	Day Day Thomas makes two point jump shot	56-67
3:55	+2	Emanuel Sharp makes two point layup	56-69
3:44		Jizzle James misses two point jump shot
3:42		Emanuel Sharp defensive rebound
3:20		Milos Uzan misses three point jump shot
3:18		Day Day Thomas defensive rebound
3:10		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
3:08		J'Wan Roberts defensive rebound
2:43		L.J. Cryer misses three point jump shot
2:41		Dillon Mitchell defensive rebound
2:34		J'Wan Roberts blocks Jizzle James's two point layup
2:34		Bearcats offensive rebound
2:34		TV timeout
2:22		Milos Uzan shooting foul (Day Day Thomas draws the foul)
2:22	+1	Day Day Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-69
2:22	+1	Day Day Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2	58-69
2:12		Jizzle James personal foul
1:54		Milos Uzan misses two point jump shot
1:52		Aziz Bandaogo defensive rebound
1:41		Bearcats 60 second timeout
1:32		Aziz Bandaogo misses two point layup
1:30		Cougars defensive rebound
1:23		L.J. Cryer turnover (lost ball) (Jizzle James steals)
1:20		Simas Lukošius misses three point jump shot
1:20		Cougars defensive rebound
1:20		Josh Reed personal foul
1:08		Josh Reed personal foul
1:02		Cougars 30 second timeout
0:57		L.J. Cryer turnover (lost ball) (Jizzle James steals)
0:53	+2	Jizzle James makes two point layup (Day Day Thomas assists)	60-69
0:50		Simas Lukošius personal foul
0:50	+1	L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-70
0:50	+1	L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-71
0:45		Day Day Thomas turnover (bad pass) (Milos Uzan steals)
0:37		Simas Lukošius personal foul
0:37	+1	L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-72
0:37	+1	L.J. Cryer makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-73
0:31	+2	Jizzle James makes two point layup	62-73
0:18		Milos Uzan turnover (traveling)
0:13	+2	Jizzle James makes two point layup	64-73
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Jizzle James makes two point layup